A lesbian police officer is suing the British Transport Police for sexual discrimination, claiming she was banned from working on the same shift as her girlfriend.

Sergeant Jasmine Stewart claims she was picked on by colleagues, and that bosses at Ashford Police station allowed heterosexual couples to work together but discriminated against her because she was gay.

Stewart was sacked in April 2009 on the grounds of non-attendance. Her partner has also since been sacked.

Junior officers were also rude and refused to carry out her instructions, she told an employment tribunal.

The force denied there was a culture of homophobia, saying officers accepted Stewart’s sexuality, reports the Daily Mail.